Calling all fans of anime, manga, fantasy, and horror! If you love complex stories with lots of character development set in amazing new worlds, then the works of Japanese author Fuyumi Ono are for you. Ono has been writing horror and fantasy novels since the late 1980s, and her ability to blend traditional Japanese and Chinese tales with modern ideas makes her books beautifully detailed.

Her two most popular series The Twelve Kingdoms (linked to LFPL catalog) and Ghost Hunt have both been adapted into anime series. The Twelve Kingdoms has also been translated into English by former manga publisher Tokyo Pop. The story is about another world that exists on the other side of the ocean from Japan where rulers are chosen by mythical creatures, and evil demons plague the land. High school honor student Yoko is taken into the world of The Twelve Kingdoms to become the king of Kei by one of these mythical creatures. Through her eyes, the audience is introduced to an intricate cast of characters in a richly formed fantasy realm.

Ono’s other popular series, Ghost Hunt, has also been adapted into a manga series. This is a modern day horror series that follows the famous psychic Kazuya Shibuya characterized through ghost-hunting high school student Mai. Through her adventures with Shibuya, Mai develops her own psychic abilities and becomes friends with other spiritualists that join Shibuya’s ghost hunts. There are many scary and sometimes gory moments in this series, so it is not for the faint of heart.

Take some time to branch out from manga authors and check out some of the very talented Japanese novelists like Fuyumi Ono!